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On Monday, Michaelmas-day, the citizens of London assembled in tba Guildhall and elected a Lord Mayor for the ensuing year. The choke fell upon the first on the list of candidates—Alderman Thomas Quested Finnis ; who duly and formally declared that he willingly took the office. Mr. John Dillon moved a vote of thanks to the present Lord Mayor- " the first member of the Jewish persuasion who has filled the office of Chief Magistrate in this great city: The vote was granted with ala. crity ; and the allusion to his religion drew from Lord Mayor Salomons a description of the delicate position in which he had been placed. The duties connected with the office of Lord Mayor are multiform, and require a great sacrifice of time ; for, besides being at the head of the Ma. gistracy of the City, his follow citizens look up to hba for the discharge of many important functions. Among other things, according to ancient usage, the Lord Mayor is regarded as the head or representative of religion in the City. The Lord Mayor is, so to speak, the personation of the State within the City ; and it is necessary, therefore, that he should be able con- scientiously to participate in those religious ceremonies which from ancient traditions and customs are associated with the office, and that he should also set au example to his fellow citizens of the respect which is due to the religion of the majority of the people of this country. They were aware of the line of conduct he had pursued. He had felt that he was in a position of great responsibility; but his fellow citizens had, by their unanimous vote that day, expressed their opinion that he had discharged his duty ho- nourably and conscientiously, and he was thus relieved from great anxiety. He hoped he might at least be regarded as one who in this coun- try had done something for the Noneonformists—he did not mean for any particular section of Nonconformists, but for that large body some of -whom are altogether separated from the communion of the Established Church, while others diar from that churoh in various respects. He had endeavoured to show that a man might be a Nonconformist without offend- ing the religious feelings of others. He had felt it his duty on all public occasions to pay that respect which he thought was due from a man m au- thority to the established religion of the country. He had endeavoured to evince on every occasion, not only the respect due to the established re- ligion of the country, but also the regard due to the principle of religion; for he conceived that unless a man's conduct be regulated by religious prin- ciple he is utterly unfit to be a leader of others or to hold high office in this country. He must say that it had afforded him the greatest pleasure and delight to find himself so well supported as he had been by the clergy of va- rious religious denominations. Re had endeavoured to show that he re- spected religion, and -many of the religious teachers of the country had manifested their respect for him because they believed he acted upon prin- ciple. (Frequent cheers.)

The outgoing Sheriffs, Alderman Kennedy and Alderman Rose, were also rewarded by a vote of thanks.

The Sheriffs, Mr. Meehi and Mr. Keats, who took the oaths of office on Saturday, were presented to the Chief Baron of the Exchequer on Tuesday in due form. Mr. Recorder Wortley presented them with the usual biographical flourish.

"In the person of Mr. John Joseph Mechi, senior Sheriff, Citizen and Lorimer, and who is connected with the Eastern division of the Me- tropolis, they have a gentleman of Italian extraction, but a man who is proud to 'be numbered among the merchants of the City of London. Al- though the sprung from the Italian race, who were remarkable for their cultivation of the arts and sciences, he was proud to be enrolled among the merchants and men of business of this country. His father was born in Rome, but eafly in life he transferred the scene of his pursuits, and was for a long time employed in business in France ; but during the reign of terror, he in common with many others quitted it and took refuge in this country. In this country he subsequently attracted the attention of the Royal Family, and was soon afterwards taken into the Royal household. His son, by early pursuits, in consequence of his great proficiency the Italian lan- guage, was taken into a house in the City ; and his studies might offer an example to the young men of the present day, and prove to them the ad- vantages of becoming early acquainted with the modern languages. He pursued his business for twenty-nine years, when he was selected to pre- side over a large banking corporation; and he now stands on the footing of one of the first citizens of London. Besides his occupation in business, he devotes himself to the improvement of agriculture, on a limited estate, where once a year he invites men of talent and skillto witness the combined results of capital and science.

"Mr. Frederick Keats, Citizen and Lorbner, is eminently fitted for the duties he will have to perform. Mr. Keats is of an ancient and honourable family in the West of England, and boasts the ancestry of one of the most distinguished Admirals of the Navy. Mr. Keats succeeded to an eminent business founded by his grandfather at the West end of the Metro- polis, and which is known to the public as the firm of Fortnum and Mason. That firm has contributed greatly to the comforts and convenience of the people of this country; for by their skill they have afforded the means of carrying provisions for any length of time and for any distance, which has greatly added to the comforts of the traveller, and through which their name has become known in every portion of the globe; and he is as much respected as well known."

The Lord Chief Baron paid a tribute to the memory of the late Cursi- tor Baron ; and explained how he came to be there Mailing the duties of that abolished office.

The ceremony of doing suit and service in respect of certain property in Salop and St. Clements Danes—which consists of chopping through three bundles of wood, and counting six horse-shoes and sixty-one nails— closed the proceedings.

At a meeting of the Metropolitan Board of Works on Wednesday, a new proposal for Thames-purification was submitted by Mr. M'Clean, of Great George Street, Westminster. Mr. M'Clean proposes that the Thames should be purified and the sewage " utilized " by collect- ing it from both sides of the river at West Ham. The sewage of the South side would be collected near Southwark Bridge, and conveyed across the river in pipes to Aldgate, thence to West Ham. At West Ham there would be a pumping station; and from West Ham to the German Ocean there would be a conduit, covered as far as "Battle Bridge" on the river Crouch, and thence open through the marshes to the sea. Cost, 1,600,0001.; period of construction, four years. The sewage would be useful to the agriculture of Ease; and would not be offensive to many people, as the population is sparse. Thanks were voted to Mr. M`Clean for his suggestion.

The A.dministrative 'Reform Association has begun its. campaign to purify the House of Commons in accordance with Mr. Roebuck's pro- gramme, by publishing a letter from Mr. Gassiot, its Minister of Sta- tistics, setting forth the number of divisions and the proportion of at- tendance of Members, with a table especially devoted to the Metropolitan Members. Mr. Gassicd finds from a Parliamentary return that there were 198 divisions in the last session ; that 8 Members did not record their votes in any of the 198 divisions ; that 86 were absent 180 times and upwards ; that 221 were absent 150 times and under 180, that 244 were absent 100 and under 150 times ; that 75 were absent 50 and der 100 times ; that 18 were absent 10 and under 50 times ; and that 07ie was absent once—[who was he ?]; while "230 Members who re- present county constituencies, and 329 representing boroughs, were ab- sent from 100 and upwards of the 198 divisions." As regards the Metro- politan Members, Mr. G assiors table shows, "that in the 198 divisions of last session, London was represented fully on only three occasions ; Westminster, 6; Fins-bury, 8; Tower Hamlets, 13; 'Greenwich, 16; Marylebone, 19; whilst Lambeth was represented, by both Members voting together, 75, and Southwark, from a similar cause, 73 times." The Members necessarily named in the table, says Mr. Gassiot, "may pos- sibly be able to account for their absences in a manner satisfactory to their constituents ; but it seems difficult to conjecture in what manner those who have been elected on Reform principles will explain their so often voting on opposite sides. One of the boroughs being represented by gentlemen of different political principles, must expect to see itself neutralized in the Great Council of the Nation, and whether its Members attend to oppose each other, or pair off, is of little practical consequence ; but in another we find two avowed Reformers opposed on 10, and in a third on no less than 49 oc- casions. The result arising from an examination of these divisions is some- what curious ; for although the attendance of the Members for Lambeth has been more constant than those of Southwark, the former borough has had itself neutralized on no less than 66 divisions, (some of them of a most hn- portant character,) whilst Southwark has been in the same position only 39 times. The localities enumerated in the table contain a population of 2,132,812, represented by 132,776 electors ; of whom 68,048 did not vote at the last ,general election."

The Archdeacons, Rural Deans, and upwards of 400 of the clergy of the diocese of London, presented an address to Dr. Blomfield on Satur- day last, on his resignation. The address is a warm panegyric on the episcopal virtues of the retiring Bishop, and takes farewell of him with the deepest sorrow. In his reply, Dr. Blomfield refers to the circum- stances under which he retires- " I had long felt that the duties of that see required all the energy and activity of a younger and stronger man than myself; and it has pleased God to visit me with such a measure of sickness and infirmity, as not only to justify me in seeking to be relieved from a burden which has become too heavy for me, but to impose upon me the absolute necessity of doing so. An act of Parliament has 'been passed enabling me to resign my bishopric. For the provisions of that act I have great cause to be thankful ; though I must confess that I would rather have seen a general measure, applicable, with certain safeguards, to the ease of all Bishops of our Church disabled by age or infirmity from the active discharge of their duties. Nothing short of a real and urgent necessity would have induced me to take a-step which would be painful under any circumstances, and which is render pecu- liarly so by the fact of its involving my separation from a body of clergy- men with whom I have been connected by a littered bond of union for twenty-eight years, whom I have always regarded as brethren and friends, and who have always evinced a corresponding feeling in their conduct towards me I earnestly hope and pray that the kindly feelings which you have at all times manifested towards me may cheer and facilitate the labours of your new diocesan. I have ventured to assure him that the attachment which I had reason to believe the clergy of the diocese felt towards me would, I was persuaded, induce them to receive my successor with cordial respect and deference."

It is proposed to bring Alderman Kennedy and Mr. F. 3. Law into the Bankruptcy Court, on an alleged claim of 4000/. and interest on the part of the Newcastle Banking Company : there is a question of liability.

A petition in bankruptcy is opened against Robson, the absconding clerk of the Crystal Palace Company : he is described as an "antimony-smelter."

The "doctor's shop" will be a very dangerous place to go to, without sonic legal interference for the protection of the lieges. Here is an example of how such a shop may be conducted. Mrs. Hopkinson a young woman of twenty, was charged before the Thames Police Magistrate with attempting to destroy herself : she swallowed a large quantity of tincture of opium, but her life was saved by prompt medical aid. In the course of the investi- gation it appeared that Mr. Hopkinson is a druggist at Rateliff, but he passes hie bine in nki'ng : his wife, who was married to him about a year ago, .has also commenced drinking; but as she is not so far gone as her husband, she—a person ignorant of drugs—has been in the habit of serving in the shop. Dirs. Hopkinson took advantage of her position to get a amply of tincture of opium from a druggist, and apparently because she was unhappy with her husband, swallowed an immense dose of the narcotic. Before the Magistrate, she expressed her contrition, and promised not to repeat the act. Mr. Yardley lectured the young woman, and then liberated her. It was announced that Mrs. Iloprison would be taken by her friends into the country, while her drunken husband is to dispose of his business.

Mr. Arthur Henry Welch, a barrister of Lincoln's Inn, was charged at Bow Street Police Office on Tuesday,. with publishing a libel on Miss Col- quhoun. Mr. Welch had been appointed one of the executors of the late Mr. ColquhOrm ; he was looked upon as a suitor to the hand of Miss Col- quhoun ; subsequently intercourse was broken off with him ; in retaliation, according to Mr. Bodkin, Mx. Welch threw the family affairs into Chancery, and persecuted Miss Colquhoun with letter; finally sending an "infamous" one, the subject of the_present. proceedings. When Mr. Bodkin was about to read this letter, Mr. Welch, in great excitement, said it must not be done —the ease must be stopped. Finally it was agreed that the prosecution should be stayed, if Mr. Welch gave up all letters and presents received from Miss Colquhoun, signed a declaration retracting all charges against her, and promised not to annoy her or her family any more. From some misunderatandhig, apparently, Mr. Welch had left the court before the mat- ter was concluded; so the -summons was ordered to stand over.

An "accident" occurred on the North Kent Railway, near Blackheath -tunnel, on Tuesday morning; that is, a fast passenger-train was dashed into a train of coal-waggons which were orossingthe line. A number of carriages were shattered, and nine passengers were hurt, but none dangerously.

On the morning of the 23d September, Mr. 3. Ashby, a clerk of the works at Westminster Palace, was drowned at Old Shades Pier, London Bridge. He attempted to get on board a steamer that had just started, but mimed his footing and fell into the river. It is said that but a slight effort was made to save him by the people in charge of the pier.